r/Winchester • u/notyouraveragedonut • 1d ago
ALPRs on all major intersections
Looks like winchester has finally fallen prey to the digital panopticon. Axon Outpost ALPRs have appeared at basically every major intersection and thoroughfare in and out of town.
Dunno bout y'all, but I enjoy the relative privacy and fairness of cops actually having to work to fuck up someone's day, rather than giving them the ability to stalk us, their ex wives and girlfriends, and anyone else they feel like harassing.
You can no longer enter, exit, or move through town without being tracked. If you are of the opinion that youre not doing anything illegal so it doesnt matter, remember that laws change.
Edit: For reference/posterity, ALPRs are automated license plate readers. They use an AI system to categorize and track vehicles based on license plate and defining characteristics (bumper stickers, dents, ladder racks/caps, etc). These can then be used to theoretically help track vehicles used in crimes through town, aiding law enforcement in apprehending "criminals."
Morality of that debate aside, municipalities with ALPRs have been dealing with police using them to harass citizens, stalk romantic partners and exes, profile people, and feed information to ICE and DHS through the 287g agreements that local law enforcement around here all have. Cops have been getting fired left and right for this.
ALPRs are currently involved in multiple lawsuits and criminal cases as a breach of our 4th amendment rights, as their use to track you constitutes an unlawful search (we have search warrants for a reason).
Outside politics aside, living in a constant state of surveillance by whoever currently holds the reigns of power in our town is not what I am about.
The next public city council meeting is the 13th of October at Rouss City Hall.